Sayegh holds fund-raising advantage in Paterson mayoral election

PATERSON – Heading into the homestretch of the city’s mayoral election, Andre Sayegh has more money to spend on his campaign than any of his seven rivals, finance reports released Monday show.

City Council President Andre Sayegh

Sayegh, the city council president, has about $85,000 remaining in his campaign fund, compared to $54,500 for his closest fundraising rival, former mayor Jose “Joey” Torres, according to New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission reports.

Only one other candidate met the state’s deadline for filing campaign finance reports 29 days before the election – Donna Nelson-Ivy, according to ELEC. Her report showed she has a balance of about $5,000.

According to previous finance reports, Mayor Jeffery Jones has $40,000 remaining in his account, followed by Councilman Rigo Rodriguez with $18,750 and Maria Teresa Feliciano with about $7,500. The other two candidates – David Gilmore and former councilman Alson Goow – have not reported any contributions yet, according to the ELEC files.

“That’s not so bad, I thought he would be ahead by more,” said Torres, saying Sayegh’s fundraising efforts have benefited from the backing he has gotten from Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. and the endorsement of state and Passaic County Democratic Party chairman John Currie.

Several candidates pointed out that Torres had a commanding fundraising advantage in 2010 when he was defeated.

“People are going to vote their conscience, not how many signs you have,” said Rodriguez.

Said Jones, “Everybody runs their campaign differently. The big question is where is all the money coming from? We’re a poor community.”

Nelson-Ivy said raising contributions has been difficult. “I would love to have $50,000 in the bank, but that’s not my reality,” she said. “I’m doing the best I can as a grassroots organization. I’m chugging along.”

Gilmore said he delayed fundraising until his candidacy was certified by the city clerk in March. He said he only recently got his first contributions.

“We’re not career politicians,” Gilmore said. “My motive was to try to inform the electorate and it morphed into an election campaign. We’re not worried about raising money.”

Only three of the eight city council candidates filed campaign finance reports by the deadline. Councilman Kenneth Morris’ report showed he has raised $58,454 and spent $6,277; Eddie Gonzalez reported raising $15,500 and spending $14,306; while Michael Jackson listed $7,600 in donations and no money spent.

Jones’ report showed he had raised more money than any other mayoral candidate — $241,000. But most of that money was raised and spent in the 12 months after he won the 2010 election, including a sizable portion on his inaugural ball.

Sayegh’s report showed he has raised $190,885, including $55,000 shifted from his city council election fund, and he has spent $105,000. Torres’ reports showed he raised $173,000 and spent $120,760.

Sayegh holds fund-raising advantage in Paterson mayoral election

PATERSON – Heading into the homestretch of the city’s mayoral election, Andre Sayegh has more money to spend on his campaign than any of his seven rivals, finance reports released Monday show.

Sayegh, the city council president, has about $85,000 remaining in his campaign fund, compared to $54,500 for his closest fundraising rival, former mayor Jose “Joey” Torres, according to New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission reports.

Only one other candidate met the state’s deadline for filing campaign finance reports 29 days before the election – Donna Nelson-Ivy, according to ELEC. Her report showed she has a balance of about $5,000.

According to previous finance reports, Mayor Jeffery Jones has $40,000 remaining in his account, followed by Councilman Rigo Rodriguez with $18,750 and Maria Teresa Feliciano with about $7,500. The other two candidates – David Gilmore and former councilman Alson Goow – have not reported any contributions yet, according to the ELEC files.

“That’s not so bad, I thought he would be ahead by more,” said Torres, saying Sayegh’s fundraising efforts have benefited from the backing he has gotten from Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. and the endorsement of state and Passaic County Democratic Party chairman John Currie.

Several candidates pointed out that Torres had a commanding fundraising advantage in 2010 when he was defeated.

“People are going to vote their conscience, not how many signs you have,” said Rodriguez.

Said Jones, “Everybody runs their campaign differently. The big question is where is all the money coming from? We’re a poor community.”

Nelson-Ivy said raising contributions has been difficult. “I would love to have $50,000 in the bank, but that’s not my reality,” she said. “I’m doing the best I can as a grassroots organization. I’m chugging along.”

Gilmore said he delayed fundraising until his candidacy was certified by the city clerk in March. He said he only recently got his first contributions.

“We’re not career politicians,” Gilmore said. “My motive was to try to inform the electorate and it morphed into an election campaign. We’re not worried about raising money.”

Only three of the eight city council candidates filed campaign finance reports by the deadline. Councilman Kenneth Morris’ report showed he has raised $58,454 and spent $6,277; Eddie Gonzalez reported raising $15,500 and spending $14,306; while Michael Jackson listed $7,600 in donations and no money spent.

Jones’ report showed he had raised more money than any other mayoral candidate — $241,000. But most of that money was raised and spent in the 12 months after he won the 2010 election, including a sizable portion on his inaugural ball.

Sayegh’s report showed he has raised $190,885, including $55,000 shifted from his city council election fund, and he has spent $105,000. Torres’ reports showed he raised $173,000 and spent $120,760.